[Anonymous]

#1127043

Hi Rose-
I am current reading a book called The Thyroid Solution by Ridha Arem, M.D. It’s a pretty good book from what I’ve heard. I’m reading it now and it has shead a lot of light for me. It discusses different Thyroid diseases and I believe yours is in their too. I recommend picking up the book.

Let me know what you think if you decide to read it.

Good Luck With the RAI.

Edia

[Anonymous]

#1039156

Hi everyone. I just got my results back on my thyroid scan. The dr stated that I do not have Graves Disease as originally thought. I have Hashimotos Thyroiditis – hyperthyroid. My iodine uptake was 1%. Anyone have any information on this type of thyroid problem. He feels that I had this a while ago and may have it off & on throughout life. Any information or places to check on this type of thyroid problem would be appreciated. Thanks again.
Rose

[Anonymous]

#1127044

Hi, Rose. Most of the books recommended on the National Graves’ Disease Foundation’s main web site will give you information about Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The books deal with thyroid disease, not just Graves’ disease in particular.

Wishing you luck,
Bobbi — NGDF Asst. Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1127045

Can anyone tell me about the thyroid scan? I am scheduled to have it done next Wed-Thur. I have just recently been diagnosed with GD. But have had it the last 4 years. Why does the scan take two days to complete? My endo says the more he learns the less he knows. Blood tests aren’t telling him anything.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

#1127046

I’m assuming that your doctor is doing an “uptake and scan”. The way it works is that they have you swallow some radioactive iodine, then they have you come back after 6 hours and 24 hours. At those times, they measure how much of the iodine has been absorbed by your thyroid — with Graves disease, you absorb the iodine at a much higher than normal rate.

The scan is where they look at how the iodine is absorbed into your thyroid — whether it’s spread all over, or just concentrated in certain locations. In Graves disease, the iodine is absorbed all over the thyroid, not just in certain locations.

Hope this helps

[Anonymous]

#1127047

I don’t know a whole lot about the scan – medically speaking…but, I just had the first day of my uptake and scan today. It was the easiest diagnostic test I have ever had done! I swallowed the capsule this morning then they sent me home for 6 hours, when I came back to the hospital they used a machine to measure my thigh then my neck. Then they took me to the scanner where I laid down and they scanned the entire thyroid, then a left lobe scan, then a right lobe scan. All in all it took maybe 45 minutes. I go back tomorrow for another scan 24 hours after taking the capsule.

Good luck…don’t be scared…I feel like I worried for nothing!!

[Anonymous]

#1127048

Hi Igfinny, I had the thyroid scan done yesterday and this morning. If you took the capsule and they did a scan, you go back the next day to measure the radioactivity. This lets them know what is going on. The radioactive iodine collects in the thyroid if you have GD. If it is thyroiditis then it will not collect in the throid. The results are read the second day. Hope this helped. Good luck with it, and it sounds worse than it actually is.

[Anonymous]

#1127049

Sounds like everyone else has done a good job at explaining a thyroid scan but thought I would add a little also. You might be wondering why they scan your knee or thigh or whatever body part your hosp. decides to choose. ( some also may use your elbow) This confused me so I asked the tech. They scan another part of your body because, I guess, we all have some sort of level of radiation already in our bodies. Scanning an area other than your thyroid will let them know the norm for you body and it can help them determine the severity of the uptake in your thyroid.
Also, one thing that was real uncomfortable to me during the actual scan was the fact that they prop your head way back to get a clear view of your neck. Even though I got up slowly I almost passed out. It may make all the blood rush to your head and then make you dizzy. Not painful or anything like that, just thought you might be interested in knowing this for future reference.
Missy

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